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I welcomed the lovely Ashley to my studio once more. Shooting a mix of her own outfits and some latex. She had these cargo pants and boots in her bag that we combined laced sheer top. We’ve got a beautiful portrait and some more edgier shots out of the outfit.
A quick outfit change to add some latex and high heels to Ashley’s outfit gave her a totally different look.
Joint Base Andrews was established in 2009 when Andrews Air Force Base merged with a US Naval Air Facility. Many will know JB Andrews—or at least Andrews AFB—as the home of Air Force One. Yep, that Air Force One: the modified Boeing 747 the US president uses.
Actually, the US Air Force 89th Airlift Wing is one of several units that call JB Andrews home. And the 89th Airlift Wing not only operates Air Force One but also a couple other modified Boeing models used for aerial transport of senior US officials and VIP’s.
You can imagine I headed out to the 2025 JB Andrews air show with a sliver of hope on seeing Air Force One. Alas, the big bird didn’t show itself. But I got to see a C-32, a modified Boeing 757, and a C-40, a modified 737, from the 89th Airlift Wing. Along with a host of other cool planes and displays.
How about the Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy? Talking about big birds! Or the F/A-18 Super Hornet of the US Navy’s Rhino Team. I would see it again at the 2025 NAS Oceana a week later. They fly an impressive demo for sure.
There was time of some vintage aviation too. Like the Bell Helicopters UH-1 Iroquois for example. Not true vintage ’cause this aircraft is still in service with the 1st Helicopter Squadron operating out of JB Andrews. Did you know the Huey as the UH-1 is more affectionately called, came in to service in the 1950’s and is still in service with the US Air Force until this date?
But the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star up next is truly a vintage jet. This particular airplane belongs to the Ace Maker Aviation team and is no longer in service.
And what about the North American B-25 Mitchel “Panchito” belonging to the Delaware Aviation Museum? Ain’t she pretty. In Europe, we’re used to seeing the Mitchel in cameo green. The sleek silver body of Panchito is something else though.
The cherry on the cake definitely were the US Air Force Thunderbirds. 6 General Dynamics–now Lockheed Martin–F-16’s painted in the most beautiful red, white and blue color scheme. 6 of the US Air Force’s best pilots fly that Viper as close at 18 inches (46cm) apart at speeds up to 500 mph (800 km/h). Absolutely breathtaking! And make sure they don’t surprise you with their sneak pass at 700 mph (1100 km/h).
Did you notice that the paint scheme on Thunderbird 5 is slightly different than the others? Go back to the photo of the Thunderbirds Calypso Pass. The photo were Thunderbirds 5 and 6 seem to be mirrored. Pay close attention to the way the 5 is painted on the side of the Viper of Thunderbird 5. It’s painted upside down because Thunderbird 5 is inverted for most of the show.
The other day, I stumbled on a sparrowhawk enjoying his lunch in my backyard. The little rascal caught a dove and quietly devoured it. He let me get pretty close and photograph him. I got within like 8 yards of him to snap some photos. Not a sight I see every day.
No better way to say “good morning” to an air show crowd on a US Navy base than flying the US Navy flag. A beautiful way to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Navy btw. Welcome to NAS Ocena!
Oceana Naval Air Station is located near Virginia Beach, VA on the eastern seaboard of the continental U.S.A. The base is home to the US Navy’s Carrier Air Wings CVW-1, CVW-3, CVW-7 and CVW-8. Trust me, that’s a whole lotta F/A-18 Hornets that live there.
Before the US Navy and US Air Force jets took the stage, the US Coast Guard showed off their assets. They displayed their version of the C-130 Hercules. And the Sikorsky MH-60 Jayhawk, the coast guard version of the formidable Black Hawk helicopter. Both planes are seldom seen in the skies of Europe. Not even at air shows.
I had not seen a F-22 Raptor demo. But, wow, it met and exceeded my expectations. It was spectacular. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is 5th generation fighter. Its powerful engines and trust vectoring nozzles make it powerfull and very maneuverable at the same time. And as a bonus for the demo, we got flares. Lots of it.
The Marines showed off their Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, the B version. And the Navy had their Rhino demo team present the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.
I told you there’s a lot of Hornets at NAS Oceana. And we’re not done yet…
6 more Hornets flanked a Grumman E-2 Hawkeye for the fleet flyby. A personal highlight ’cause I think the Hawkeye is a very cool plane. You can imagine I enjoyed the Hawkeye demo to followed the fleet flyby a lot.
The absolute highlight of the day was the demonstration team of the US Navy: the Blue Angels. No air show on a naval air station would be complete without them. 6 Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet planes flying only a mere 18 inches apart on some occasions. Simply breathtaking and jaw dropping! They turn flying an airplane into an art form.
And don’t forget they are supported by a beautiful Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules nicknamed Fat Albert.
We had some northern lights over Belgium the other day. And that does not happen very often. An aurora borealis (northern lights) is usually observed in the arctic region. When it’s observed as far south as Belgium, it creates a buzz. It was all over social media.
I had never seen an aurora borealis with my own eyes. So when I saw the news, I went out to check on it. I caught the tail end of the event. I guess it was around 23:30H. But it was still clearly visible as a greenish yellowish hue in the sky. Quickly grabbed a tripod and my little Canon Powershot G7x III and shot this photo from my backyard.
I could not make it to last year’s edition of the Light of Day concert in Belgium ‘cause I was out of town. But I wouldn’t want to have missed this year’s for the world.
I had a lot of fun. Seeing friends again, hearing familiar songs and on top of it all I had the privilege of taking pictures again. Artists this year included Jesse De Belder from Alps, Guy Davis, Adam Ezra & Corrina Smith, Jake Thistle, Rob Dye and of course Joe D’Urso.
The Light of Day Foundation, Inc., utilizes the awesome power of music to raise money and awareness in our continuing quest to end Parkinson’s disease and related neuro-degenerative diseases, specifically Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), within our lifetime. It was founded by Bob Benjamin in 2000. A concert in Belgium is staged since 2013.
Episode 5: A Day of Infamy
Today, a year ago I stepped on the USS Arizona Memorial for the 2nd time in my life. Last time I was there in real life, was 2001. But I will watch the National Park Services’ live stream of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor every year. I am watching it this year as I have been doing all those years between my visits. I am there in spirit every year.
In the early hours of Sunday, December 7, 1941, the Japanese Navy and Air Force bore down on the US naval base of Pearl Harbor. Their goal: to sink the US Navy’s aircraft carriers and annihilate the pacific fleet. It clearly was a well planned attack. Torpedo bombers and high-level bombers ragged havoc on the US fleet. All 8 battleships in port were damaged, four of them were sunk. Fortunately, the aircraft carriers were not in port.
The Japanese Air Force also attacked the US airfields at Wheeler, Hickham, Bellows and Ford Island. They destroyed most of the US airplanes on those bases. They also strafed and bombed the naval air station at Kaneohe Bay, Marine Corps Air Station Ewa and the Schofield Barracks Army Base.
You can still see bullet holes in the windows of the historic Hangar 79 on Ford Island from the 1941 attack.
And a Japanese torpedo used in the attack that was later recovered from the bay at Pearl Harbor, is on display in the museum of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.
When the attack was over, a mere three hours later, a total of 2403 US military and civilians were killed Another 1178 were wounded. 1177 sailors died aboard the USS Arizona alone. More than 900 of them are entombed inside the hull, 40ft underwater, to this day.
The National Park Service maintains the USS Arizona Memorial—dedicated on May 30, 1962—since 1980 as a permanent reminder to that fateful day in 1941. They later added the USS Oklahoma Memorial and the USS Utah Memorial (more on them later).
A day after the attack, President Roosevelt addressed Congress and declared war on Japan with his famous Day of Infamy speech:
“Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan […] I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.”
The US Navy started a salvage mission at Pearl Harbor after the attack was over. Most battleships that were hit on December 7, 1941 were repaired and returned to business. The USS Arizona was the only battleship that was not salvaged. However, the US Navy removed the ship’s super structure. So, today, most of the USS Arizona is under water. Only a few parts stick out above the water line. In fact, the park rangers from the National Park Services told me that the ship still is slowly sinking into the muddy bay that is Pearl Harbor.
The US Navy had refueled the USS Arizona the day before the attack. When that Japanese bomb hit the forward magazine on the USS Arizona, the ship had about 1.5 million gallons of fuel oil on board. Many of its fuel tanks remained relatively in tact as the USS Arizona sank to the bottom of the harbor. Over the years, USS Arizona’s fuel tanks began to leak. The oil in its tanks began to rise to the surface in little droplets. These droplets were soon dubbed the Tears of the Arizona.
Legend has it that the ship releases the little drops of oil because it is morning the lost of the 1177 sailors when she sank. The USS Arizona is in fact weeping black tears. It is said, she would continue to shed her tears until the last remaining survivor of the USS Arizona would pass away. NPS park rangers told me that noticeable less oil leaked from the USS Arizona since LCDR Lou Conter—the last remaining USS Arizona survivor—passed away in April 2024. So, maybe the legend is true after all.
But you can still see oil seeping from the USS Arizona’s wreckage and raise to the surface today. The little back drops burst into beautiful rainbow colored spots as they reach the surface. I’m sure that the tears will continue to emerge from the USS Arizona for years to come.
In the present day, the USS Arizona Memorial sits solemnly over the remains of the the battleship BB-39 USS Arizona. It is flanked by BB-63 Missouri. In the distance, you see the beautifully restored control tower on Ford Island.
Today, as I celebrate another year around the sun, I feel blessed. December 7th is no longer just a day of infamy. It is a day to remember, honor and understand. It is also a day to celebrate.
I am surrounded by many of the people that are dear to me. We’re sharing pizza and chicken wings. A tradition started in 2001 after my 1st trip to Hawai‘i. To anyone who’s dear to me and who’s reading this (you know who you are): mahalo for your friendship!
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Episode 5: A Day of Infamy
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Did you know there are 4 different colors of sand on the beaches in Hawai‘i? Say what? Four!? Yup, they’ve got white sand beaches like the one at Waimea Bay on the north shore of O‘ahu.
There is black sand beaches like the beautiful Punalu‘u Beach on the Island of Hawai‘i, aka the Big Island.
You’ll only find red sand beaches on Maui, on the legendary road to Hāna. Even though they say that the beach at Kōkī Beach doesn’t really count, they serve damn good Huli Huli Chicken there.
And there’s green sand beaches… Dasm! I forgot to drop by a green sand beach to take a pic. A good reason to go back to the islands i guess.
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Hawaiian Sunsets are just gorgeous. Whether you’re on O‘ahu, Maui or the Island of Hawai‘i. They are full of color and spectacular. You’ll get every shade of red, yellow, orange, pink and deep mauve. You would want to go outside every evening to just sit quietly and watch the sun go down in technicolor.
What would be better that an Hawaiian Sunset? How about a luau and a hula on a warm winter evening? It’s December 1st, 2024 and we were outside in jeans and a t-shirt drinking cocktails… Listing to traditional Hawaiian songs and the inevitable Andrews Sisters evergreen Christmas on Christmas Island.
Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is a must-visit park when you’re in Hawai‘i. It is home to Kīlauea, an active shield volcano. It is also a great place to watch the sun set. Right on the edge of the Kīlauea caldera sits Volcano House. A hotel and fine dining restaurant. A great place for dinner and drinks, and watching the sun set and steam rise from the vents of Kīlauea from their patio.
In the weeks and months leading up to our trip, there was a lot of seismic activity at the park. Usually a precursor to activity in the volcano. And lo and behold, we had hardly returned home and Halemaʻumaʻu crater inside the Kīlauea caldera started erupting. Between mid December 2024 and October 2025 it has spewed lava 35 times. Sometimes 1500ft high. How cool would it be to sit on the patio of Volcano House at sunset watching Kīlauea’s fireworks?
Afraid of being alone? Head down to Waikīkī Beach. You’re sure to not be alone. And your sunset pics will be swapped with tourists.
Episode Guide
This story is part of a series of stories from my trip to Hawai‘i in December 2024. Other episodes include:
Prelude: Aloha from Hawai‘i
Episode 1: Local Wildlife
Episode 2: USS Missouri
Episode 3: Hawaiian Sunsets
Episode 4: 4 Different Colors of Sand on the Beach
Also, read all about my 3 day stopover in Seattle, WA before heading to Hawai‘i.
The 1st F-35 Lightning II fighters for the Belgian Air Force arrived in Belgium yesterday. 1SQN pilots brought them home to Florennes Air Base. On base, they were greeted by His Royal Highness King Filip of Belgium, the Secretary of Defense, the Chief of Defense along with other dignitaries. Outside the fence, a couple of hundreds of aviation enthusiasts looked on as those 1st 3 F-35’s with Belgian Air Force livery touched down.
In fact, these were not the very 1st F-35’s delivered to the Belgian Air Force. 8 more Belgian F-35’s are assigned to 312 SQN. They are stationed at Luke Air Force Base in the USA. They are used to train our pilots on the new airframe.
We had a day of typical Belgian weather: a sky with 50 shades of grey and from time to time a light drizzle. So, my pictures did not turn out to be great. I’m sure that I’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet these jets in better light.
